Receptacle cover



Nov. 5, 1940.

R. G. CURTIS RECEPTACLE COVER Filed June 3, 1938 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATNT FFlQE RECEPTAGLE COVER Application June 3, 1938, Serial No. 211,636

3 Claims.

The invention relates to receptacles provided with removable self-locking covers,particularly to the covers for garbage cans or similar receptacles where it is desirable to provide aself-locking lid which cannot be accidentally removed by the force of the wind or by dogs or other animals attempting to get at the contents of the receptacle.

More particularly the invention relates to the general type of covers having a latching handle mounted at one side thereof and adapted to lock the cover upon the receptacle until the handle is manipulated to unlock and remove the cover.

It is known that covers have been produced having various forms of latching handles but all such devices of which applicant has knowledge have been more or less complicated and expensive.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient latching handle which may be easily operated and which holds the cover in locked position, and does not require gravity or spring operated means to be associated therewith.

Another object is to provide a one-piece latching handle formed of sheet metal rigidly connected at one end to the depending flange of the cover, the other end having a latching portion formed thereon and extending through the cover for engagement under the usual rim bead of the receptacle.

These objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved latching handle in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a receptacle provided with a cover having the improved latching handle thereon;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary top plan view of the cover and improved latching handle with parts broken away to show the manner in which the latching portion of the handle engages beneath the bead of the receptacle;

Fig. 3, a section taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the handle in unlocked position and the cover partly raised;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the cover and receptacle diametrically opposite to the latching handle; and

Fig. 6, a detached perspective view of the latching handle.

parts mon shape for such receptacles, although the cross-sectional shape of both the receptacle and cover may be of any other suitable or desired form without departing from the invention.

The cover for the receptacle is indicated generally at l2, and may be of any usual and suitable design and provided with the customary depending peripheral flange l3 adapted to overlie and enclose the bead ll of the receptacle in usual and well-known manner.

The improved latching handle to which the invention pertains is indicated generally at M, and

be of the usual circular form which is the comv is stamped from a single piece of sheet metal into a substantially U-shape as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, one leg l5 having an angular outturned foot l6 adapted to be connected to the rim l3 of the cover by any suitable means such as a rivet I! located through an opening it in the foot, or by spot welding or the like.

This handle may be curved transversely as indicated at 19 for the purpose of strengthening the same and the other leg 20 is provided at its end with the flat, preferably narrower, latching portion 2! located through a slot 22 in the depending flange 13 of the cover and terminating in the angular end portion 23 adapted to normally contact with the exterior of the receptacle as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and to contact with the interior of the flange I3 when the handle is operated to unlock the cover as shown in Fig. 4.

Preferably, at a point on the cover flange l3 diametrically opposite to the latching handle above described, some means such as the clip 24 may be provided to project inwardly for a sufficient distance to engage beneath the under side of the bead ll of the receptacle and prevent this side of the cover from being raised relative to the receptacle.

It is not necessary that the handle be formed of spring steel in order that it will properly operate, but ordinary sheet metal formed in the manner illustrated and described, gives the handle suflicient rigidity to permit its use in removing and replacing the lid while at the same time it has sufficient flexibility so that it will operate properly as a latching handle and may be pulled out to the position shown in Fig. 4 for removing the cover and at the same time when the handle is released it will resume the normal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the latching portion contacting the outside of the receptacle.

Assuming that the cover is placed upon the receptacle in the manner shown in Fig. 3, the handle will assume the position shown in said figure, the latching portion 2| thereof extending through the flange [3 of the cover substantially into contact with the outside of the container and located directly beneath the bead ll of the receptacle.

Any attempt to raise the cover relative to the receptacle, without grasping and pulling outward upon the handle M, will be opposed by the latching portion 2! of the handle engaging the under side of the bead l I of the receptacle.

If, however, the handle M is pulled outward to the position shown in Fig. 4, the latching portion 2| .of the handle will be drawn out of the path of the bead H of the receptacle so that the cover may be raised relative to the receptacle as shown in said figure in order to remove the cover from the receptacle.

With the construction illustrated and above described the cover is positively held upon the receptacle at all times excepting when the handle is manipulated to remove the cover.

The receptacle may be up-set, thrown or rolled into any position without the possibility of the latching handle becoming unlocked, as there is sufiicient rigidity in the handle to hold the same in locked position.

I claim:

1. In combination with a receptacle having laterally projecting means at its open end, a

cover having a depending flange adapted to overlie and enclose said projecting means, and a substantially U-shaped horizontally disposed, flexible, resilient sheet metal handle rigidly connected at one end to the depending flange and having its other end extending through a slot in the flange and between the side wall of the receptacle and the rim flange of the cover and comprising a locking projection normally positioned beneath said laterally projecting means, said last named end having a lateral projection thereon functioning as a stop to prevent said end from being removed from the slot.

2. In combination with a receptacle having laterally projecting means at its open end, a cover having a depending flange adapted to overlie and enclose said projecting means, and a substantially U-shaped horizontally disposed, flexible, resilient sheet metal handle rigidly connected at one end to the depending flange and having its other end reduced and extending through a vertical slot in the flange into position beneath said laterally projecting means and terminating in an angular end portion for engagement with the inside of the depending flange when the handle is flexed.

3. In combination with a receptacle having laterally projecting means' at its open end, a cover having a depending flange adapted to overlie and enclose said projecting means, a substantially U-shaped, horizontally disposed, flexible, resilient sheet metal handle having one end outturned and rigidly connected to the depending flange and having its other end reduced and extending through a slot in the flange and terminating in an angular end portion forming a locking projection normally positioned beneath said laterally projecting means and arranged to contact the inside of the depending flange when the handle is flexed outwardly.

ROWLAND G. coia'rrs. 

